Jennifer Saunders has admitted she couldn't help notice a few signs of ageing when the Absolutely Fabulous cast reunited to prepare for the Christmas special.

In publicity shots for the show, in which Jennifer, 53, resurrects outrageous PR Edina Monsoon, she and Ab Fab regulars Joanna Lumley, Jane Horrocks, Julia Sawalha and June Whitfield, have been credited with barely looking a day older.

But she tells this Friday's Graham Norton Show: "It was a lovely thing going back. It all seemed the same, except at the read-through there was a lot of snapping open of spectacle cases and people bending low to read their scripts."

Expressing her relief that the cast are all able to return for the BBC One specials, she jokes: "Everyone's still alive - phew!"

Jennifer tells the BBC One chat show there wasn't space for lots of celebrity cameos, saying: "With only three episodes there are a lot of people to pack in, but we've got the regulars, Lulu and Emma Bunton."

She says of making an Ab Fab movie: "I did say it to someone and it seems to have ballooned into an idea. I'm thinking about it, really seriously thinking about it."

Jennifer wrote three new episodes which will be aired at Christmas, while recovering from breast cancer.